REVIEW – Museum on the Mound

A million pounds

Museum on the Mound (free entry)

Ever seen a million pounds in real life? You can at the Museum on the Mound amongst many other interesting bank-related exhibits. The museum has been open for a few years now and is an excellent free activity for people of all ages.

The museum has different sections to explore and the friendly staff supply you with a map of the floor plan and any information you may need. As you walk through the entrance, you immediately spy £1,000,000 encased in a glass display. Look carefully at the top right hand corner, it looks as if there’s 4 lots of bank notes missing – but there’s no money missing.

This money display used to be housed elsewhere but the sheer weight of the money (130 lbs) was no longer suitable for the cabinet, so it’s now been placed here. Every single note has been marked ‘cancelled’ so it’s no longer legal tender.

Although we think of money today as banknotes and coins, things like tea, shells and even feathers have been used in the past. You can find out how money has evolved over the past 4,000 years and even have a go at cracking a safe!

There’s a few hands on exhibits, which will amuse children whilst adults may look at the old currencies on display and remember the designs of the coins and notes.

It’s certainly interesting to use the interactive maps to see how the city has changed and grown since the 1600s and to find out how the Mound got its name.

During the school holidays, the museum normally runs special workshops with hands-on activities.

There is a small gift shop that sells a selection of money-related items and the museum is completely accessible and buggy friendly.